Medical Mile in Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mayor Lyman S. Parks
Born: March 12, 1917
— Died: November 4, 2009 —
Photographed By Nathan Bierma
1. Mayor Lyman S. Parks Marker
Inscription.
Mayor Lyman S. Parks. Born: March 12, 1917.
Reverend Parks was the first African American to be elected mayor of Grand Rapids. . Born in Lyles Station, Indiana, Parks moved to Grand Rapids in 1966 to become pastor of First Community AME Church. In February of 1968, Parks was elected and became the first African American to serve as a Grand Rapids City Commissioner, representing the third ward. , In June of 1971, he was selected by his fellow city commissioners as a mayor pro tem to fill a mayoral vacancy. In November of 1973, Parks was elected as mayor of Grand Rapids. Parks is credited for persuading Amway founders Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel to purchase and renovate what is now the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, an investment widely recognized as a foundation for the resurgence of downtown Grand Rapids. , Parks, a good friend of President Gerald R. Ford, was noted as "the right man at the right time and place," guiding Grand Rapids towards acceptance of diversity during a time of racial strife throughout the United States.,
Sculpture by Antonio Tobias Mendez, 2013. Celebrated sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez has created more than 20 public monuments across the United States. He is especially known for his exceptional historical portraits of Thurgood Marshall (Annapolis) and Mohandas Gandhi (New York). Mendez also created the sculpture of Noahquageshik, 'Chief Noonday,' the second sculpture dedicated by the Grand Rapids Community Legends Project., This sculpture and site are made possible through the generosity of the peter F. Secchia Family's Grand Rapids Community Legends project, initiated in 2008, to honor individuals who built our West Michigan community.,
The mission is to create sculptures of historical figures from the history of Grand Rapids..
Reverend Parks was the first African American to be elected mayor of Grand Rapids.
Born in Lyles Station, Indiana, Parks moved to Grand Rapids in 1966 to become pastor of First Community AME Church. In February of 1968, Parks was elected and became the first African American to serve as a Grand Rapids City Commissioner, representing the third ward.
In June of 1971, he was selected by his fellow city commissioners as a mayor pro tem to fill a mayoral vacancy. In November of 1973, Parks was elected as mayor of Grand Rapids. Parks is credited for persuading Amway founders Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel to purchase and renovate what is now the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, an investment widely recognized as a foundation for the resurgence of downtown Grand Rapids.
Parks, a good friend of President Gerald R. Ford, was noted as "the right man at the right time and place," guiding Grand Rapids towards acceptance of diversity during a time of racial strife throughout the United States.
Sculpture by Antonio Tobias Mendez, 2013
Celebrated sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez has created more than 20 public monuments across the United States. He is especially known for his exceptional historical portraits of Thurgood Marshall (Annapolis)
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and Mohandas Gandhi (New York). Mendez also created the sculpture of Noahquageshik, 'Chief Noonday,' the second sculpture dedicated by the Grand Rapids Community Legends Project.
This sculpture and site are made possible through the generosity of the peter F. Secchia Family's Grand Rapids Community Legends project, initiated in 2008, to honor individuals who built our West Michigan community.
The mission is to create sculptures of historical figures from the history of Grand Rapids.
Location. 42° 58.141′ N, 85° 40.319′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Kent County. It is in Medical Mile. Marker is on Monroe Avenue Northwest, 0.1 miles south of Michigan Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids MI 49503, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Village of Grand Rapids (a few steps from this marker); La Grande Vitesse
Photographed By Nathan Bierma
2. Sculptor information on statue of Mayor Lyman S. Parks
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 29, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 29, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
